To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
That will undo her: to confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

First Gent.

'Tis the cardinal;

And merely to revenge him on the emperor
For not bestowing on him, at his asking,
The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purposed.
Sec. Gent. I think you have hit the mark: but
is 't not cruel

That she should feel the smart of this? The

cardinal

Will have his will, and she must fall.

First Gent.

We are too open here to argue this;
Let's think in private more.

'Tis woful.

[Exeunt.

160

SCENE II. An ante-chamber in the palace.

Enter the LORD CHAMBERLAIN, reading
a letter.

Cham. 'My lord, the horses your lordship sent for, with all the care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord cardinal's, by commission and main power, took 'em from me; with this reason: His master would be served before a subject, if not before the king; which stopped our mouths, sir.'

168. argue, discuss.

Sc. 2. By FLETCHER (Sp.).

6. by commission and main power, in virtue of a warrant and by means of main force.

I fear he will indeed: well, let him have them:
He will have all, I think.

Enter, to the LORD CHAMBERLAIN, the DUKES
OF NORFOLK and SUFFOLK.

Nor. Well met, my lord chamberlain.
Cham. Good day to both your graces.
Suf. How is the king employ'd?

Cham.

I left him private,

What's the cause?

Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

Nor.
Cham. It seems the marriage with his brother's

wife

Has crept too near his conscience.

Suf.

No, his conscience

'Tis so:

Has crept too near another lady.

Nor.
This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal:
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune,
Turns what he list. The king will know him one
day.

Suf. Pray God he do! he'll never know him-
self else.

Nor. How holily he works in all his business! And with what zeal! for, now he has crack'd the league

Between us and the emperor, the queen's great
nephew,

He dives into the king's soul, and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears, and despairs; and all these for his marriage :
And out of all these to restore the king,

He counsels a divorce; a loss of her
That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years

20

30

21. That blind priest, etc. and like Fortune herself disposes Wolsey is Fortune's favourite, blindly of human affairs.

About his neck, yet never lost her lustre ;
Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the king: and is not this course pious?
Cham. Heaven keep me from such counsel !

'Tis most true

These news are every where; every tongue speaks

'em,

And every true heart weeps for 't all that dare
Look into these affairs see this main end,
The French king's sister. Heaven will one day

open

The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold bad man.

Suf.

And free us from his slavery.

Nor. We had need pray,

And heartily, for our deliverance;

Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages: all men's honours

Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what pitch he please.

Suf.

For me, my lords,

I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,

If the king please; his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they 're breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him that made him proud the pope.

Nor.

42. The French king's sister, Margaret, Duchess of Alençon, more celebrated as Queen of Navarre. Holinshed reports the tradition that Wolsey had planned this marriage. At the time of Campeggio's visit, how

Let's in;

40

50

ever (October 1528), she had been married for nearly two years to Henry of Navarre.

43. slept upon, been blind to the faults of.

50. pitch, height.

And with some other business put the king

From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon

him :

My lord, you'll bear us company?

Cham.

Excuse me;

60

The king has sent me otherwhere: besides,
You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him:
Health to your lordships.

Nor.

Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain; and the King draws the curtain, and sits reading

pensively.

Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted.

King. Who's there, ha?

Nor.

Pray God he be not angry.

King. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves

Into my private meditations?

Who am I? ha?

Nor. A gracious king that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: our breach of duty this way Is business of estate; in which we come

To know your royal pleasure.

King.

Ye are too bold:

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business:
Is this an hour for temporal affairs, ha?

Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS, with a com

mission.

Who's there? my good lord cardinal?

Wolsey,

The quiet of my wounded conscience;

O my

Thou art a cure fit for a king. [To Camp.]

You're welcome,

Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom:

70

Use us and it. [To Wol.] My good lord, have

great care

I be not found a talker.

Wol.

Sir, you cannot.

I would your grace would give us but an hour
Of private conference.

King. [To Nor. and Suf.] We are busy; go.
Nor. [Aside to Suf.] This priest has no pride
in him?

Suf. [Aside to Nor.] Not to speak of:

I would not be so sick though for his place:
But this cannot continue.

Nor.

[Aside to Suf.] If it do,

I'll venture one have-at-him.

Suf.

[Aside to Nor.] I another.

[Exeunt Nor. and Suf.

Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom

Above all princes, in committing freely

Your scruple to the voice of Christendom :
Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks,

I mean the learned ones, in Christian kingdoms
Have their free voices: Rome, the nurse of judge-
ment,

Invited by your noble self, hath sent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This just and learned priest, Cardinal Campeius;
Whom once more I present unto your highness.
King. And once more in mine arms I bid him
welcome,

83. sick, consumed with pride.

85. have-at-him, assault

94. Have their free voices, can speak their opinion unrestrained.